But as season 2 has moved forward, no one has fallen quite so hard.
The challenge of Number One is bringing Kevin down to rock bottom without melodramatizing his pain.
Unfortunately, that adorable stumble is the steadiest Kevin will be in the episode, from toddlerhood to adulthood.
Credit: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
You guys want to honor Kevin Pearson?
he asks, trying to sound upbeat.
Meanwhile, teenage Kevin is anxiously awaiting the arrival of a coach from the University of Pittsburgh.
(Rebecca says Jack has been going to meetings for six months.)
When the coach shows up, Kevin is shockingly rude.
Get out of my sight, Jack snaps at Kevin when the coach leaves.
Kevin maintains his arrogance, however, and insists, We can do better.
He boasts, Its not luck, its talent.
Jack tells him to go to the basement and write an apology letter.
Its a sharp contrast to where Kevin is as an adult.
In the present day, he flies out to Pittsburgh, where fans snap selfies with him.
Kevin leaves and goes to his high school.
Outside of McKinley High, Kevin downs more pills.
Kevin, completely out of it, instead muses that hes going to walk the halls.
He was on top of the world.
Not like where he is now.
Shes a plastic surgeon who works with burn victims and helps kids in need.
(He remembers her so little he botches her last name, pronouncing it Eberly.)
She then mentions the news of his and Sophies divorce.
But then we managed to get back together!
he exclaims…before adding, And then I screwed that up too.
Kevins also getting calls from Kate and Toby while at the school but is too distracted to answer them.
He fought through the adversity and the heartache.
Suddenly, Kevin sees his father in the coachs place.
When he finally gets to the microphone, Kevins in no condition to provide inspirational commentary.
After the rousing audience introduction, he mutters, Thank you, and says that Collins was wrong.
He tries his damnedest to give a grim speech that reflects his anguish.
Its hardly the best speech youll hear.
That reverence is something Kevin has experienced all his life.
As a high school student, it was as a popular football player.
Kevin responds, smarmy, Ive got enough fans in the stands cheering me on.
Its interwoven with people in the present-day commending Kevins amazing speech.
Charlotte spots him drinking yet another cup of bad wine and takes him outside for a walk.
He imagines his dad saying, Thats my son, proudly.
But then he recounts what actually happened, reliving the moment when he was injured on the field.
His knee is wrecked hes not getting back from this one, folks, he narrates.
Hes then approached on the field by the homecoming coordinator, who asks if he wants to party.
Next thing we know, hes in bed, naked, next to Charlotte, at her house.
That was like 20 years of fantasy energy goingpow pow pow pow, she says.
Kevin tears up before racing, sweaty, to the bathroom and looking through her medicine cabinets.
He asks Charlotte to whip us up a snack to distract her while he keeps looking.
Finally, he finds her prescription pad and steals it.
Hes gone before she even comes out with the food.
Is it a wake-up call?
Jack visits Kevin at his hospital bed and informs him his football career is effectively over.
Kevin apologizes for his behavior: Ive been awful to you, and I can do better.
I swear to you, son, Jack continues: You will find yours.
That moment is key to understanding why Kevin, in the present, runs out of the pharmacy.
Hes lost his necklace.
He returns to Charlottes, banging on her door and begging for her to let him look for it.
He then practically collapses on her lawn, repeating, I just need somebody to help me.
Its heavy, heavy stuff.
Kevin shows up at Randalls, who takes him in after they apparently spoke on the phone.
Kevin tells his brother that he needs to tell him something.
Randall interrupts him: Its okay, I already know.
And what is it he knows?
Kate lost the baby.
Its a devastating revelation to end on.
The camera pans to Kate.
